A Call to Action

After witnessing the events of the past few days, it is incumbent on each of us to make every effort to protect our patients and our profession. Regardless of which side of the aisle you support, change is underfoot.

In the District of Columbia, we have been fortunate to have Full Practice Authority (FPA) in our Nurse Practitioner profession. We are a green state! Independently, we can evaluate, diagnose, interpret, treat and prescribe. We can order therapy, DME, and hang out a shingle to run our own clinic. Advocates before us worked hard to create our incredible work environment. We have professionals helping us now to stay in this favorable, sweet spot - The Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) is our voice at the national level. At AANP we lobby both sides of the aisle and have your back so you can care for your patients.

We all lead very busy lives; with our families, our patients and our practices. However, now more than ever, we need to speak as one; not just in healthcare but in shaping new healthcare laws, maximizing reimbursements, being counted in ACOs, and the list goes on.

Then visit the Advocacy Center on the AANP website and see the five things you can do right now to make a difference. In the District our U.S. Congressional Representative is Eleanor Holmes Norton. She can be contacted by email at: https://norton.house.gov/contact/email

Take the first step and join or renew your AANP membership today. Then come to the next local NPADC meeting on February 9th and not only receive CEUs but a legislative update.